By Douglas F. Roberts, The Chicago Times
December 22, 2022
TAIPEI – The Taiwanese Air Force scrambled combat jets Thursday to intercept 39 Communist Chinese aircraft that illegally entered its southeastern air defense zone.
This is not the first time Communist China has invaded the Taiwanese air defense identification zone (ADIZ) which has prompted formal complaints by the Taiwanese government. According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, the Communist incursion included 21 fighters and 4 H-6 bombers (a Chinese copy of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16) along with several antisubmarine and aerial refueling aircraft. Communist Chinese aircraft flew over the Bashi Channel to an area off Taiwan’s southeastern coast. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry also said Communist Chinese naval vessels were also detected close to Taiwan.
Over the past few months, Communist China has been completing pre-invasion drills around Taiwan threatening peace in the Pacific. Communist China claims Taiwan as a wayward province and refuses to allow Taiwan to be an independent nation. Taiwan has vowed to fight back if attacked by Communist China.
The Chicago Times 